WELCOME !!!!!

We want to invite everyone to join us in our journey.
We share laughter and tears.
We share what works for us and what doesn't.
We recently started a Topic of the Day.

Monday........Motivation Monday
Tuesday.......Tuesday Tips
Wednesday.....Wednesday Weigh ins
Thursday......Thankful Thursday
Friday........Friday Facials, Fingernails and Fun
Saturday.......Sit-up Saturdays - any physical activity
Sunday.........Soup and Salad Sunday - recipes

These are not required topics ...just ideas to share. We have found them very helpful. We also share heartaches and fears...joys and celebrations.

Please feel free to jump right in with us.
And be sure to check if there is a second page. We don't want anyone to miss any posts.


WELCOME !!!!!

Hey guys! I saw we were getting kinda close to that magic number 30, so I thought I would go ahead and start another thread. I'm sitting here...............sweating. Sorry, not to dissappoint you Lucky or Donna, but NOT naked. Not yet! That's close though, because I'm about to hop in the shower. I just got finished doing the 3 mile WATP! How strong am I?!

Just wanted to pop in real quick and say to Sandy, congrats on the loss this week! That is awesome and you are doing such a great job! Keep up the good work!

I'm heading off to a lovely bubble bath..... I've gotten rid of dh and the boys. They're off at the local highschool watching the Harlem Globetrotters. While I love my family more than anything, I can not even tell you how nice the silence is. I'm going to go relax before the gym lets out and in comes the thunder! See you guys in a bit!

For Thankful Thursday...... I am thankful for a wonderful family, but tonight I am more thankful for a lovely tub full of bubbles. Who knows? I might even break out the candles! Who knows? It could happen!

Thankful Thursday: I am thankful for lovely friends like you, my beautiful children, loving husband and scrumptious grandson. God has richly richly blest me with things money could never buy and for that I am truly greatful.

Q: What the heck is wrong with you? Didn't you read the +300 thread regulation saying you MUST sit at the computer naked. Come on now! By the way super duper neat room, how did you ever find the paint to match? I ask dh and he did work with Tony's Aunt Gayle. Really funny and sweet lady. "My room" is I Love Lucy. we bought this condo from our daughter and son-in-law and it was their first home and the one they brought dgs home to. Kel and I had wallpapered his room in beautiful blue hot air balloons and that is now my room, so though I would love the room to be red and white, I refuse to take down that paper. A fat woman and one 8 months pregnant papered the room and there is no way it is coming down. I do have lots of memorabilia and pics in there though. I have a long way to go to have it "lucyized" completely.

Baylee: Thanks for the encouragement. I am up in the clouds that this has worked so well. I got another shocker today and was tickled to death. I got down on the floor to play with my grandson and discovered a big bunch of my belly had disappeared. I kept noticing that tying my shoes had become easier. Before I would have to sit on the bed or couch so that I could kind of put my leg up on the bed to get to my shoe, but I have been able lately to bend over and get to them with no problem. My goal for this year was to lose 100 lbs (about 2-2 1/2 a week) by the end of Sept for our vacation and I am halfway there already so even when it slows down and I know it will, I will probably more than make my goal which thrills me.

Kat: I was a young mom 20 and 24. I enjoy having hubby all alone now, but probably the biggest mistake we ever made was having kids so young. I would not do that again. Of course, it allows me to be young enough to enjoy Thomas.

Lucky: Hope you hopped into a nice warm bath and got all the kinks out. I remember shoveling snow. We lived in this house with this really long and steep driveway and the garage at the very end. I remember getting about 2 1/2 ft of snow and trying to shovel that #$^% thing so we could get our car out. Try and enjoy what the cake tasted like and don't beat yourself up. It will come!

Toocute: Oh, I am so glad you doggy is better. I would be devastated if Fortune got sick. I watch that pooch like a hawk.

Tina: One thing I did with my son before there were even things like that coming up was to stress to him how really low that puts a woman. Maybe you should ask him if he ever notices pornography with men used that way. The answer of course is no and ask him that even though most of those women choose to do this, some do not and are forced and how would he feel about his mom, sister, girlfriend, etc (whatever fits) were forced to do that so that others could look at them like he was looking at someone's mom, sister, etc. Would he like his friends to see whomever like that? To think about the fact they have family too that may be really embarrassed about their daughter etc doing that just so you could be sexually excited. Makes them think and takes the wind out of their sails so to speak because you know kids, telling them no is like telling them to find a way to hide it, if you know what I mean. I also told both my kids about drugs this way. Hey, it feels good. Anyone that tells you that taking drugs or drinking doesn't feel good is lying. The problem is when they wear off. You not only don't feel so hot, you have to have more and then the next time they wear off you feel worse than the first time and each time gets worse. Good luck, I wouldn't do that over again for anything!

Sandy: See we knew there was fat waiting to exit your body! Way to go!!!!!!! Good for you about taking food. The sting so to speak will wear off and she will get used to it. Just hang tough, but be gentle.

I am under calories and fat by quite a bit tonight. I even think when I finish I am going to go clean the two upstairs bathrooms. I cannot describe how great it is to be getting my life back, literally and figuratively.

Have a good evening ladies. Think of me as I am elbow deep in toilet water!

Donna

Okay chick-ee's, I bet you've all gone to bed!! And me I just got home from that other addiction and I did not win this week, OH Well.....

I completly forgot about thankful Thursday......I am thankful for so much, but will only list a few and save some for next week.

SANDYS THANKFUL LIST

1. My Hubby, Kids, and family.

2. That I found a group of woman like you all that keep me going and keep me laughing.

3. My wonderful job and wonderful boss that really does appreciate what I do.

4. That my family was safe today from war and distruction.

5. That god has blessed me with all that I do have, not just material things, but love and happiness too.

Hugs to you all,

Donna: Thanks for the advice. I did use it with my son and worded it just the way you did and I really do think it made him think. Your right about the other thing too, when you tell him no, that just makes him want to do it more. I think when I presented it to him that way, it made him look at the whole thing differently. At least I can hope. I have no illusions however. I am the mother of a teen. Joy...joy. Also, that is so cool that the woman your husband worked with was Tony's aunt. I would have passed out for sure. As far as my room goes, I bought the paint at Home Depot and it was "Tony Stewart orange" so it wasn't too hard to match. By the way, just in case you didn't know, in your last post, you addressed me as "Q" and as "Tina". I just was making sure you knew QueenB and Tina are the same person.

Well since me and Donna are the only ones that have come out to play tonight, I guess I will go to bed. I'm going to try my best to stay away from here in the morning if I can and come in in the afternoon and hopefully there will be a lot of posts. That's not a request..... That's an order!

Love you guys!

I rambled so much that Sandy decided to come out and play.... thank you for the thankful list...sometimes I think we forget that. I am thankful for you Sandy..... and Donna too. I am thankful for ALL my chickie friends, but sometimes people pop in once or maybe even twice or maybe even stay for a couple of weeks and then leave & you guys fit so well with us. I am thankful for new friends.

Have a great night!

Hi all! Just waltzing in for a minute to say 'hi' and let you know that I have NOT fallen off the face of the earth. I've been so busy I can't see straight. My schedule will let up along about a week from next Tuesday.

The baby is out of the house. He went to somewhere in Ohio for a Fraternity conference. He is treasurer of his fraternity and he will be the ranking officer from the house so he has to make a speach and all. He's pretty geeked about it. Loves that kind of stuff. The oldest was off to class tonight so honey and I went out to dinner, just the two of us. That's actually twice this week and it was really nice. I ordered Parmesaen Encrusted Baked Whitefish. Boy was it yummy! Honey is getting better. He actually ordered grilled salmon, and liked it. What an improvement over the big burger he ordered the last time we were there.

Congrats to all the losers. You guys are doing marvelous. I know there are a whole lot of things I should reply to, but just no time. I do want to put my two cents worth in to:

Donna: I guess I'm from a different place on the neighbor's kids thing. Maybe the kids being left out twice in six months is a big deal (it would be to me because I would have never had that happen in my house) but, what makes you think it's going to happen more frequently or all the time. You said the last time was in the fall and this is February. I think all the other girls here had some great advice, but I'm not sure it's worth all the worrying you're doing about it. If you weren't home, they'd have gone somewhere else. You were, and you were obviously willing to take them in when they were on your doorstep, I'd have done the same thing and let them in. But I wouldn't have allowed them to " go wherever they want", nor would I "corral my animals". I would however, be sitting them in front of the TV or giving them some paper to draw on at my kitchen table to keep them busy. On the issue of parking junkers and cars every which way, apparently the landlord has not made them aware of the homeowners regulations that come with living in your condo development. It's easy enough to find out who the landlord is either from the condo association or from your city offices. They have listings of who the homeowners are. * I'm not sure this sounded very supportive. I hope you can resolve your situation. I know as we get older, sometimes it's harder to take how other people raise their kids. My next door neighbor, for instance, allows his son to play baseball between their house and mine which leads to the kids using my two trees out front and my flower bed as bases. The neighbors to have a yard and a half with the extra half a yard being on the opposite side of the house. Can they play on that side? NO, of course not. They have to play on my side and stand on my edging and lose their ball in my shrubs. I've raised two sons and neither of them would have been allowed to infringe on the neighbor's yard in this fashion, but that's just me.

Sandy: I know I'm late to weigh in on this subject, but, take whatever you want to your mother-in-laws. I've been doing it for four years and they get over it. I do usually find out what she's serving first so I can find something similar. Like when she's doing dogs on the grill, I get some of my point friendly smoked sausage and cut it bun length and bring my own 1 point buns. No one is any the wiser when we eat. I also always bring some kind of healthy salad (big bowl so everyone can enjoy it) and usually no one is any the wiser.

Tina: Only 9 months 'til racing season's over!!!

I will leave you with a recipe for a wonderful salad (suitable to take, Sandy). For you old-timers, you've seen it before. It's from our friend Syn. And I just love it.

Syn's Apple Salad

2 apples, cut in bite size pieces (I use 1 Fuji or Gala and 1 Granny Smith for color)
1 20oz can crushed pineapple in juice
1 cup mini marshmallows
1 cup dry roasted peanuts (must be dry roasted = less fat)
1 8oz fat free cool whip

Place apple pieces in a large mixing bowl and pour crushed pineapple with its juice over the top and mix well. (The pineapple juice stops the apples from turning brown) Add the marshmallows and peanuts and mix well. Fold in Cool whip. Chill.

Makes a big bowl full. 2 WW points per cup.

Gotta run and get some sleep, girls. I've got another busy day tomorrow. See ya later.

Good evening/good morning gals.

I don't have a lot to say tonight. Just wanted to be sure there are lots of posts for Sandy to read.
It snowed here allllllll day... yet no accumlation. It melted as fast as it fell. No snowman building here.

My daughters are both coming home this weekend for the babys first birthday celebration.... as if she even knows what is going on. lol but we know. One year old today. We are celebrating Saturday though.

Thankful Thursday list would have to include the fact the snow stayed away so my girls could come home this weekend.
Thankfull for my dogs returned health.
Thankful for my days of being on program.

For FUN FRIDAY I plan on going to the movies and seeing 10 Ways to Lose a Boyfriend. I am going to eat lunch and dinner out too. And I am making a new file for all the great recipes you all post. I keep printing them out... and then forgeting where I put them.
Well... that is my plan if the roads are clear.

Okay... I am out of here.
I will return with my critic review of the movie.

Tina: I am soooo sorry about the "doubletalk." Because we were at a new thread, I loaded the internet twice so I could go back between threads, read, and post to everyone so that is what I did and you must have had a post without your name at the bottom because high ho you got two posts! As for the advice, maybe it won't stop him, but if it makes him think that is at least good. He is exposed to sexuality just going to school so it is tough. It is not just Playboy T and A shots anymore, but the whole banana. I used to live by the Bible passage, "Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is OLD he will not depart from it." It doesn't say they act right as kids so just trust you have instilled the right things in him!

2cute: Let us know about the film. Jack and I went to see "Catch Me if you Can" a couple weeks ago and I really liked it. Jack doesn't care much for date movies so I usually pick something I think we would both like. Have a wonderful time with your girls. I always love the few times our two kids are with us together.

Thin: I know I am stressed about next door, but I probably wouldn't worry so much if they were older but they are so little. The mother is a dope that is all I can say about it.

Well, gotta go. I am freezing in my husband's office this mornng.

Donna

I' m here just running.

I have been reading & reading and now have no time to post. Have to get to work.

I DID have to chuckle over:

Thin's comment gives us a whole new perspective to this Nascar season!!!!

But then, when is it that it starts?

We're having a lovely snowstorm at the moment...it started around 10:30 last night, and hasn't stopped yet! There must be about 5 or 6 inches out there, but nice and fluffy...easy to clean off the cars . A friend and I got out of work and just started clearing off cars. First we did all the ones we knew, then we figured, ah, what the heck, let's just keep going on down the line. There is this miserable little guy who works in the lab, he is so mean to everyone...well, there we were working on his car (not knowing) and he came over with this huge smile on his face and was so appreciative! He was chatty and friendly...it really made my day! I LOVE THE SNOW! Ok, I might not like the volumes that Lucky and Baylee and J-ann get, but this has been a great snow year for us! Some years we don't get any. I can't wait to go sleigh riding later. I even enjoy shoveling the stuff!

I am happy to report that I have been totally OP all week! It feels wonderful! I have had a few chocolate chip cookies, but I have counted the points and included them in my daily totals. I look for ways to increase the amount of veggies, even if it means just grabbing a handful of baby carrots and some celery sticks to go with lunch. Last night I had to grab a quick dinner before a meeting, so I took two small tortillas, some turkey and some of the coleslaw I made earlier in the week, rolled them up and had myself two nice little wraps, both for only 6 points! A cup of red seedless grapes bought the total up to 7 points for dinner! The surprising thing is that I am full and satisfied on such smaller amounts of food. Sometimes I'll make something and think, "Oh, this will never be enough!" And it is! It's that old attitude adjustment at work...

Where oh where is Michelle, ma belle? Come on out and play, girlfriend...I miss hearing about Andrew and his adventures. We don't judge, so if you're not being OP, what better place to come and be re-inspired but here? Take it from one who more than knows. We love you! {{{hugs}}}

Welcome back, Thin...thanks for that recipe again...I wanted to try it the first time you posted it and never did...I think I even have all the ingredients!

I read this quote in "Simple Abundance" when I was looking up something that my pal Lucky pointed out, and thought of you, Sandy, and your MIL situation: "To know what you prefer instead of humbly saying Amen to what the world tells you you ought to prefer, is to keep your soul alive." ~Robert Louis Stevenson
Nice, huh?

Tina...wow, good luck in that situation...the internet is a scary place...too much stuff out there for wondering eyes. My son is turning 12 next week... Old bloodhound DH keeps an eye on what's been viewed on our PC. My daughter and her friends have these on-line journals, they write and post in each other's . Dh was reviewing recent sites visited and came across the journals and started to read them...and told her that he had. Oh Lord, what a blowout THAT night! I am in total disagreement with this...but he feels that if it's being displayed out there in cyberspace, doesn't he have a right to read it too? If she gave me some reason to spy on her, I would, but she hasn't, so I don't. Ahhh, the joys of parenthood/marriage!

Well, that's all I can muster before nap time. Hi to everyone else, enjoy your day...see you all later!

Morning Chick-ee-poohs,
Well here I sit at work, just read all the posts and got my fix for a bit so I'm a happy little camper at the moment. My boss is gone till February 17th, so I've got the office to myself.... what is one to do

THIN/ Thanks for the recipie, it sounds so yummy, but I will have to leave the peanuts out as much as I hate to cause I love them, but my 5 year old is extremely allergic to peanuts.

KAT/ We are getting the snow up here in Maine too, but only supposed to get 1 or 2 inches along the coast. But the roads are gettin slippery so the girls are telling me as they come in to get their paychecks. We seem to have gotton lots of snow this year, and now its icey cause it rained the other day and the driveways are sheets of ice, now its gonna snow again on top so you cant see the ice and hope and pray your not gonna fall on your bum-bum and break something.

LUCKY/ I don't really know when the official season for racing starts either? I do know that there is a race on tomorrow, the Bush Shootout? So I've heard on the radio. Is that right TINA?????

GRANNIE/ Come back when you can stay a little longer, but nice to know you are here in spirit. Remember to take time to slow down and smell the roses....

TINA/ I see you were peeking in and typing as I was late last night. Hope I have given you enough to read today. Did I have the name of the race right?

2CUTE/ I can't wait to hear the review of the movie!! I want to see that one so bad, and I want to go see Chicago too. Have a nice night out.

JACKSLADY/ Just wanted to say HELLO to you too and make it a little personal.

If I have forgotten anyone, I am truely sorry, but still learning everyones name and stuff.

Hugs to you all,

Can I just express to each and every one of you how much I love you? I don't know what I would do without my precious little cyber family.

I know I said I was going to wait until this evening before I came here so I'd have lots of posts to read...but I just can't stay away! You guys get my day started off right and I just can't get on the internet without checking out how you guys are first.

Soooo,

Sandy: You crack me up. I can almost hear the music cranking up ala "Risky Business" and seeing you skate across the floor in nothing but a white buttondown, socks and underwear. Can you hear it? "Just take those old records off the shelf.....I'll sit and listen to em by myself...." Let me know how the salad tastes without the peanuts, because I am NOT a big peanut fan so I was wondering what it would taste like without them. Also, the race you are referring to is called the Bud Shootout, but you were VERY close. It is actually a special race that is on this Saturday night on the Speed Channel from 8-10pm. You have to either have won a race or set a pole last season to be in the race. Of course you know, Tony will be in the race. Actually, he is the defending champion of the race....he's won it the last two years in a row and I am hoping for a THREEPEAT!

Kat: I am so proud of you girl! Congrats on being OP all week! Isn't it a great feeling? Your wraps sounded really good...I'm going to have to try those! The only part I feel like I'm lacking in is vegetables. I'm not a real big veggie girl, so that is something I definitely need to work on.

Lucky: Glad you had a laugh at my expense. Just kidding. I can feel for Thin on that one. I used to feel the same way. I lost dh during racing season....either that or I griped so much he finally just quit watching. THEN, I got bit by the bug...and well, the rest is history. By the way, the racing season officially has begun as of today. If you are so inclined and if you have the Speed Channel, you will see all kinds of Nascar practice, interviews and things like that. However, if you want to see an actual race, just tune in tomorrow night at 8:00-10:00 and you will see the best of the best. Of course, Tony will be there. Also, the first official race of the season will be next Sunday-----The Daytona 500!

Mary: Good to see you....even if just for a minute. Pop in when you can.

Donna: You silly goose! No apology necessary..... You don't have to apologize at all. I just wanted to make sure that you knew "Q" & "Tina" were the same person.

2cute: Sounds like you have a really fun day planned today! Let me know how it goes. I have been really wanting to see that movie. I LOVE Mathew McConaughey. He is such a cutie! Have a great day!

Thin: You mean little girl! I knew as much as I've been looking forward to racing season starting, you've been dreading. You know, you could actually watch the races with your dh and then you wouldn't be lonely. Thanks so much for the recipe. I remember seeing it before, but I didn't write it down. It sounds very good!

Ok gals....I'm out of here for now. I have been interrupted enough times that I am getting thoroughly frustrated and must now go over and smack Chatty Cathy upside the head. Have a wonderful day sweeties and I will check in with you later!

Tina,
I have heard you refer to CHATTY CATHY before, is this a real person or what? Please explain. I would love to be in on the giggle.....and what do you do? For work I mean. LOL...

Hugs.